WITH Geelong on the rampage, school was in for a young Essendon side at Docklands on Sunday, and class continued after the final siren when Matthew Knights drove home some key messages.

"The number-one lesson we spoke about after the game is we've played the two top sides and given away starts both times," Knights said after the 64-point defeat.

"You just can't expect to win against quality opposition when you start like that. I guess we're starting slowly, but they're starting fast, and full credit to Geelong they played some excellent football in that first quarter.

"The other lesson we learned was that it was quite apparent that when Geelong nailed us in tackles they did a hatchet job on us and we couldn't get any ball moving.

"When we tackled Geelong with our younger bodies they were able to get … handballs clear and put the ball into space."

If a 64-point margin can be flattering then this one was with the Cats simply awesome early when they went about setting up a 13-goal lead at three-quarter time.

But that was yet another learning aid for Knights.

"I thought we were a little bit conservative early, I spoke to the guys at quarter time [about it] and I didn't think we moved the ball as briskly as we should have, particularly out of defence, and through the midfield," he said.

"I urged them at quarter time that we needed to take more risks and play with a bit more dare.

"It's another lesson that no matter who you play you've got to endeavour to play the same way and spread the ball and move the ball quickly. We just couldn't manage that today."

The Dons at least fought out the final quarter, which they won six goals to three, and while some might argue the Cats took their foot off the pedal, Knights begged to differ.

"Part of our plan before the game was that we felt if we were around the action at half-time and close enough we gave ourselves a good chance of running out the game," he said.

"We've been running to the line really well in games and finishing hard, but it didn't eventuate. We were smoked at half-time and they were a long way ahead.

"I guess it could have blown out to 100 or 120 [points] – I think last year it did – so it was good to pull it back and at least win the last quarter."

A knee injury to ruckman Tom Bellchambers further darkened an already dim day for Knights who was unsure of the extent of the damage.  

"Off a fairly innocuous incident they're checking it out now and they're not 100 per cent sure what the outcome is going to be," he said.

"I would have thought it's definitely going to be some time on the sidelines. I'm just unaware of how long that's going to be."